When Hotta Miki said she could help Takayanagi Ichiro get rid of his uncle, Takayanagi Musashi, and his cousin, Takayanagi Koji, Ichiro silently confirmed his earlier suspicions but didn't show it on his face.
"If you have that kind of ability, why bother working with an unknown moneylender like me?" Ichiro asked.
The Takayanagi family was a lending clan with ties to many powerful forces and figures. For Hotta to say she could eliminate the current head meant the power behind her was anything but ordinary.
"I prefer cooperation. Letting you control the Takayanagi family is just to show you that working with me is possible," Hotta replied.
"And once I control the Takayanagi family, doesn't that mean you could control me—or just kill me here and now?" Ichiro said, glancing toward the back of her ankle.
It seemed he had noticed where she kept her weapon. But even though she'd been found out, Hotta didn't admit anything. Instead, she said, "I believe this cooperation will be fruitful. Won't you at least try?"
"How am I supposed to trust you?" Ichiro asked.
"I'll help you with this first. If I succeed, you agree to work with me. Simple as that."
"How long until it's done?"
"Within half an hour."
"Fine," Ichiro nodded.
Hearing that, Hotta smiled slightly, though it seemed unnatural. She then took out her phone and made a call.
"Begin the operation."
She hung up and calmly sat on the sofa, waiting.
About ten minutes later, Ichiro's house phone rang.
"Hello, this is Takayanagi Ichiro's residence."
"Ichiro, your uncle just died. Before I could even call the police, they showed up. The result of their investigation is that Koji poisoned him. The police have already taken Koji away. You'll need to come back to handle your uncle's funeral," said Takayanagi Rika from the main house.
Ichiro was surprised at how fast Hotta's side had acted, even coordinating with the police. Clearly, they were confident in their success before approaching him.
"Ichiro, your uncle is really dead this time, you—" Rika didn't hear a response, because Ichiro was still processing whether it might be a setup.
"I understand. I'll return tomorrow to take care of the funeral. Thank you for today."
"All right. Kaoru and I will be at home waiting for you."
After hanging up, Ichiro sat back down in front of Hotta. "So you really can mobilize the police."
"Is Mr. Takayanagi satisfied with this outcome?" Hotta asked.
Instead of answering, Ichiro said, "Give me your account number. I promised you ten billion yen, but I never said it'd be in cash. I'm sure you can handle the rest."
"I could get rid of your uncle and cousin—and you just said I could do the same to you."
"If you kill me here, you won't escape the people coming up right now. Then your real identity will be exposed," Ichiro replied coolly, gesturing toward the window.
Hotta went over to the window and looked down, seeing two police cars parked below. Officers were already heading upstairs.
"Did you call them?"
"I didn't call them on purpose, but they are here for me. So now, Miss Hotta, you can leave your account number and be on your way."
"I trust you won't go back on your word." Hotta pulled out paper and pen, writing down an account number and name—the account holder's name was not Hotta Miki.
Ichiro didn't mind. He put the paper away and gestured toward the door.
Hotta left the apartment and, in the stairwell, passed the officers who had just arrived. They didn't exchange words. She stepped aside to let them pass.
As Ran went by, Hotta whispered two words—"Angel."
"Huh?" Ran, sensitive to such things, turned to ask what she meant, but the ordinary-looking woman who had stepped aside was already gone.
"Conan, did you hear anything?" Ran asked the boy walking in the back.
"No," Conan shook his head. At his current elementary school height, and with Hotta speaking so softly, he hadn't heard a thing.
"I don't know why, but her presence feels familiar… I just can't place it." Since Conan shook his head, Ran didn't press further, murmuring to herself as she caught up with Kogoro.
(End of Chapter)
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